Norwich Northern Distributor Route Preliminary Assessment of Alternative Western Corridor Options
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NORWICH NORTHERN DISTRIBUTOR ROUTE PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVE WESTERN CORRIDOR OPTIONS March 2005 Prepared by Technical Group NORWICH NORTHERN DISTRIBUTOR ROUTE PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVE WESTERN CORRIDOR OPTIONS March 2005 Prepared by:- Planning and Transportation Technical Group Norfolk County Council County Hall Martineau Lane Norwich Norfolk NR1 2SG If you would like this document in large print, audio, Braille, alternative format or in a different language please contact Jacqui Braby on 01603 228806 minicom 223833. Norwich Northern Distributor Route Preliminary Assessment of Alternative Western Corridor Options Author of Report:- (Title) Engineer (Name) Jacqueline Braby (Sig) __________________________ Reviewed by:- (Title) Project Engineer (Name) Charles Auger (Sig) __________________________ Authorised by:- (Title) Head of NATS Implementation (Name) David Pearson (Sig) __________________________ File Reference: R1C093/JB Issue Status: Final Norwich Northern Distributor Route Preliminary Assessment Of Alternative Western Corridor Options Contents Page No Executive Summary 1.0 Introduction 1 2.0 The Alternative Route Corridors 1 3.0 Purpose of the Report 1 4.0 Methodology – Objectives 2 5.0 Methodology – Corridor Options 6 6.0 Assessment & Conclusions – Western Options 7 7.0 Assessment & Conclusions – Far Western Options 14 8.0 Recommendations 24 Appendices A R1C093-R1-298 Consultation Routes and 2004 Alternatives B List of the Alternative Western Routes C R1C093-R1-262 to 263 D Changes in traffic levels on the existing road network. E Appraisal Summary Tables F Assessment Summary Norwich Northern Distributor Route Preliminary Assessment Of Alternative Western Corridor Options Executive Summary The Norwich Area Transport Strategy public consultation in 2003 included four western route corridor options for a Northern Distributor Road. As a result of the consultation, various alternatives to these corridors were put forward by members of the public, local authorities and other organisations. The alternatives consisted of 5 variants of the consultation corridor options and 10 new routes further west of these. This report documents the work which took place in the spring and summer of 2004 to assess all the western alternatives at a Stage 1 level in line with 23 sub-objectives set out in the national Government's New Approach to Appraisal (NATA), asking the question 'does the alternative route provide any tangible benefits over the consultation route?' The following route options were compared: • the red consultation route compared with two alternative red routes; • the blue consultation route compared an alternative blue route; • the orange consultation route compared with two alternative orange routes; • the routes referred to in this report as the Easton-Morton, Pylon and Frans Green routes, compared with the red consultation route; • the routes referred to in this report as the original Pylon and Frans Green routes compared with the routes referred to in this report as the alternative Pylon and Frans Green routes; • the routes referred to in this report as the Pylon and Frans Green routes compared with the further western routes. The assessments concluded that the following route options should be taken forward to a second consultation in autumn 2004: • The alternative red route 2 (as the Consultation 2004 Red Route); • The consultation blue route (as the Consultation 2004 Blue Route); • The alternative orange route 1 (as the Consultation 2004 Orange Route); • The consultation green route (as the Consultation 2004 Green Route); • The Frans Green route (as the Consultation 2004 Alternative Purple Route); • The Pylon route (as the Consultation 2004 Alternative Brown Route); • The alternative Frans Green route (as the Consultation 2004 Purple Route); • The alternative Pylon route (as the Consultation 2004 Brown Route); These route options were then subjected to a stage 2 Environmental Assessment prior to the consultation. Norwich Northern Distributor Route Preliminary Assessment Of Alternative Western Corridor Options 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 A review of the Norwich Area Transport Strategy (NATS) was carried out in 2003 and a Norwich Northern Distributor Route (NDR) was included as part of the Preferred Strategy. A consultation on NATS was carried out in Autumn 2003 and this included four western route corridor options for the NDR. 1.2 As a result of the consultation, various alternatives to these corridors were put forward by members of the public, local authorities and other organisations. These suggestions are shown on plan R1C093-R1-298 in Appendix A. Some of the alternatives were minor variations to the original corridors. These tended to have very localised effects and could either be incorporated with the consultation routes or be given full consideration during detailed development of a preferred route, if appropriate. The remainder involved either significant deviation from the original corridors or completely new route corridors. This report assesses all the major western alternatives at a Stage 1 level in line with the Government's Guidance on the New Approach to Appraisal (NATA). 2.0 THE ALTERNATIVE ROUTE CORRIDORS 2.1 The western alternatives suggested as a result of the consultation have been classified into two groups for comparison purposes. These are: • Western Consultation Routes and Variations: This group compares the four western route corridors which were put out to consultation, with significant variations on these routes. • Other Western Route Options: This compares the alternatives which were suggested further west of the consultation red route. Alternatives are identified in this report by names relating to distinguishing features or places that they pass. A list and description of all the alternatives within each group is shown in Appendix B. The two comparison groups are also shown on Plans R1C093-R1- 262 and 263 in Appendix C. 2.2 Alternatives not discussed in this report are: • A minor variation moving the consultation red, blue and orange corridors to the north west of Thorpe Marriott, either side of Reepham Road. This variation can be incorporated with little adverse effect and it is intended to change these corridors accordingly. • Eastern Options. These are considered in a separate report. • Possible variations at Norwich Airport. These are considered in a separate report. 3.0 PURPOSE OF THE REPORT 3.1 The purpose of this report is to document the analysis which took place in the spring and summer of 2004 to determine whether the alternatives suggested provided any significant benefits over the original consultation options so that the best western route options were taken forward to a Stage 2 consultation in autumn 2004, pending the outcome of the Stage 2 Environmental Assessment. 3.2 The assessment was based on information from • Stage 1 Environmental Assessment • Stage 1 Appraisal Summary Tables • SATURN traffic model and TUBA economic assessment based on a level of assessment that was appropriate at the time. Page 1 of 24 Norwich Northern Distributor Route Preliminary Assessment Of Alternative Western Corridor Options 4.0 METHODOLOGY – OBJECTIVES 4.1 Each route corridor has been assessed according to the 5 key Government objectives and under the 23 sub-objectives set out in NATA. The methodology applied to these objectives for this assessment is as follows: 4.2 Environment 4.2.1 Noise: At this stage, quantitative information on levels of noise is unavailable. However, a qualitative analysis of the number of residences lying within 300m of the corridor options gives an indication of how many properties would suffer an increase in noise. Also, a preliminary assessment of the decrease in traffic on the existing road network as a result of each option enables a comparison of noise reduction to be made between the options. The estimated changes in traffic were assessed using the SATURN (Simulation and Assignment of Traffic to Urban Road Networks) traffic model for Norwich and the results are given in Appendix D. 4.2.2 Local Air Quality: At this stage, quantitative information on levels of PM10 and NO2 is unavailable, although initial work carried out on the Stage 2 Environmental Assessment indicates that the air quality limits and objectives for these two pollutants would not be breached. A qualitative analysis of the number of residences lying within 50m and 200m of the corridor options gives an indication of how many properties may suffer an increase in these pollutants, although this may be counterbalanced to some extent by the decrease in traffic on the existing road network. 4.2.3 Greenhouse Gases: At this stage, quantitative information on levels of CO2 is unavailable. However, CO2 emissions can be expected to increase with both the do-minimum scenario, and with any of the corridor options as traffic will grow. 4.2.4 Landscape: At this stage, a broad indication has been given of the impacts on landscape character and the probable levels of visual intrusion. Ringland and the River Wensum valley are the most sensitive and of the highest quality in landscape terms. 4.2.5 Townscape: None of the routes affects townscape. 4.2.6 Heritage of Historic Resources: At this stage, only a desk based assessment has been undertaken. A number of the corridor options significantly adversely affect the historic resource. There is the potential for unknown buried archaeological finds. These impacts remain uncertain until they can be more precisely defined with further archaeological